SRNA chaperone Hfq controls bioluminescence and other phenotypes through Qrr1-dependent and -independent mechanisms in Vibrio fischeri.

ABSTRACT: Colonization of the squid Euprymna scolopes by the bacterium Vibrio fischeri depends on bacterial biofilm formation, motility, and bioluminescence. Previous work has demonstrated an inhibitory role for the small RNA (sRNA) Qrr1 in quorum-induced bioluminescence of V. fischeri, but the contribution of the corresponding sRNA chaperone, Hfq, was not examined. We thus hypothesized that V. fischeri Hfq similarly functions to inhibit bacterial bioluminescence as well as regulate other key steps of symbiosis, including bacterial biofilm formation and motility. Surprisingly, deletion of hfq increased luminescence of V. fischeri beyond what was observed for the loss of qrr1 sRNA. Epistasis experiments revealed that, while Hfq contributes to the Qrr1-dependent regulation of light production, it also

SUBMITTER: Tepavcevic J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8673744 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature